Johannesburg , South Africa -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- South Africa 's former national police chief , Jackie Selebi , was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of corruption charges last month .

`` You are an embarrassment to the police force ... you are an embarrassment to the country , '' Judge Meyer Joffe said after the sentence was handed down .

`` I am satisfied that a sentence of 15 years imprisonment is appropriate in the matter , '' the judge added , according to the South African Press Association .

The charges stemmed from Selebi 's relationship with convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti -- a friendship that was no secret . Once asked about it at a news conference , Selebi famously said , `` He 's my friend . Finished and klaar '' -- an Afrikaans term meaning `` that 's the end of it . ''

After a four-and-a-half-year trial , the court found Selebi gave favors to Agliotti in exchange for money and expensive clothes . Joffe rejected Selebi 's defense that there had been a conspiracy against him , although he acquitted the former police chief on a charge of defeating the ends of justice , according to SAPA .

SAPA reported that Agliotti , who was appearing in a nearby courtroom on murder charges , had no comment on Selebi 's sentencing .

Selebi 's attorney asked the judge to release his client on bail while he prepares an appeal in the case .

South Africa 's ruling African National Congress party said the verdict last month clearly indicated `` that South Africa as a country is governed by laws that are applied without any fear or favor to anyone , regardless of their standing . ''

Selebi was until recently one of the most powerful political figures in South Africa . He served as president of Interpol from 2004 to 2008 and was a close ally of former South African President Thabo Mbeki .

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Jackie Selebi , the country 's former national police chief , sentenced to 15 years ' jail

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He did n't try to hide his friendship with a convicted drug trafficker

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The trial lasted 4 1/2 years